Tag Archives: family Cardiidae

Giant clams, the largest bivalves in the world, belongs to the subfamily Tridaninae, family Cardiidae. They have two conspicuous characteristics, relatively huge in size and brightly colored expanded mantles harboring symbiotic algae. They can be found living in association with coral reefs throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region.

People have utilized the clams for food, shellcraft industries, and aquarium. Unfortunately, growing demand of the clams has led to over-fishing on the wild populations throughout the Indo-Pacific region including Indonesian waters. Their natural stocks have been dramatically declining since 1980. Responding the trend, the clams are then listed on the 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

The aim of this study is to assess the species composition, density and size distribution of giant clams in Kei Kecil waters. The obtained data provides baseline information for conservation management policy.